Archive: Nov 2015

  1. Keeping your Home Safe during Vacation

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    It has been a long year. You have worked hard. You have provided for well for our family. You have gone above and beyond the call of duty at work. Now it is time to be rewarded. Its vacation time! We are very jealous, but we hope you have an awesome trip anyway. Vacation should be a time free of stress and worry. You don’t want to have to spend a single second thinking about the security of your home. By following these home safety tips, you won’t have to!
    Ask for Help and Don’t Advertise
    Don’t be afraid to ask for help looking after your home. This won’t be a large or overwhelming job. Pick a neighbor whom you trust, a family member, or a close friend, and ask them to visit the house once a day or so. They don’t necessarily have to live there, you just want a periodic check in. This is a good way to throw burglars off the scent and make it seem like someone is still actively living in the home.
    Also, avoid talking about your trip online or posting about it on social media. Tech-savvy thieves check Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram looking to find people who are out of town for extended periods of time. Don’t give them any information you don’t have to.
    Lights and Locks
    Lights and locks are your more traditional means of home security. Disable your garage door and securely lock every entrance to your home, including windows, even on the second floor. Don’t leave lights on unless they are linked to an automated system. Lights that consistently stay on into the wee hours of the night invite suspicion. You don’t want to alter anyone who may be keeping an eye out. As always, activate your home security system. This is your best weapon in the fight against home invaders.
    If you don’t have a home security system, you should look into having one installed immediately. If you have any questions regarding home security system installation or maintenance, please contact us at:
    (502) 441- 8731
    Or feel free to browse our website at: www.central-alarm.com
     

  2. Tips for Home Fire Safety and Prevention

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    Every year in the United States hundreds of thousands of homes catch fire, causing billions of dollars in property damage and resulting in thousands of tragic deaths. Fire departments work extremely hard to keep us safe, but the responsibility isn’t theirs alone. Fire prevention starts in the home. You can keep you and yours protected by following some of these helpfully fire safety and prevention tips.
    Start With Prevention
    Most home fires start in the kitchen. Always play close attention when you are cooking. Never leave the oven on and be careful with the stove, especially if it is gas. Faulty wiring is the second largest cause of home fires. The older your home is, the higher the risk. You can always schedule an inspection with an electrician to make sure you are in good shape. Check your electrical appliances for frayed wiring as well. Don’t forget to empty your dryer’s lint trap, another common source of home fires.
    Smoke Detectors are Essential
    You home most have smoke detectors installed. You should test them monthly to make sure they are functioning properly. If a smoke alarm’s battery does run out do not ignore it. Some homeowners are tempted to unplug a smoke alarm when it starts giving off that telltale low-battery chirp. That chirp is irritating for a reason, it is trying to spur you into action! Get that batter changed before you do anything else. Have extra batteries on hand just in case.
    Practice makes Perfect
    It is important that your family will be able to leave your home in under 2 minutes in the event of a fire. Create an escape plan and practice it. Hold monthly fire drills as a precaution. It may feel excessive, but if a worst-case-scenario does occur, you want to be properly prepared.
    If you have any other questions regarding home fire safety, smoke alarm maintenance/installation, or fire prevention, please contact us at:
    (502) 441-8731
    Or visit our website at: http://www.central-alarm.com/ to explore our other services

  3. Wi-Fi-Connected Doorbells: The Wave of the Future

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    Doorbells have been around since the early 1800s. These primitive devices were a bit like old style church bells, but in miniature. A chain would dangle outside the door, which a visitor would pull. A hammer attached to the chain would strike a bell and a pleasant chime would sound. In 1831, electric doorbells were invented. Today, the newest, Wi-Fi enable doorbells are not only able to alert homeowners that a visitor has arrives, they also function as security devices!
    How Wi-Fi Security Doorbells Work
    Did you know that the first thing most burglars do is ring your doorbell? It makes sense if you think about it. They want to find out if someone is home! With a new Wi-Fi doorbell it will seem like you are always home. If you are apparently always home, when is a burglar going to have the opportunity to burgle? The answer is hopefully – never.
    One of the most popular Wi-Fi doorbells currently on the market is the Ring Video Doorbell. The ring features two-way audio communication and a built-in video camera. Mostly importantly, the Ring Video Doorbell syncs with your smartphone.
    It works like this – When someone rings your doorbell a notification is sent to your smartphone. Next you open up the Ring App. Now you are going to be looking at a high-definition live streaming video of your front door, and the person who just ringed the doorbell! Well, you see who is visiting your home, now it is time to greet them. The best part, you can greet them even if you are not home. Simply speak into your phone when you have the Ring App opened. You will be able to communicate directly with the individual at your front door. If you are home, you can decided whether you want to answer the door, if you are not home, you can send them away (remember to pretend you are home though!),
    If you have any home security questions, or would like to learn more about our services, call us at:
    (502) 441- 8713.
    Reach out to us online by visiting http://www.central-alarm.com/contact-2/

  4. Securing your Home: Garage Door Safety

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    When most people are thinking about home security they usually pass right over consideration of their garage door. They make sure the front door is secure. They lock up the back door, the side door, and the windows. They turn on their security system and they think that is enough! Don’t forget to consider your garage door when you are planning your home security system.
    Electric Garage Security
    First things first, when you have an electric garage door, you need to have the ability to open the door manually. If you usually enter your home through the garage door, you don’t want to find yourself stuck outside, out of luck, in the event of a power outage. External keypads might seem like incredible conveniences, but they are also incredible liabilities. An intrepid thief may be able to manipulate the keypad and gain access to your home without having to use the combination.
    Additional Considerations
    We recommend never leaving your garage door opener inside your car. If a thief steals your car, they will suddenly have access to your home as well. Invest in a keychain opener. It will be safe and hard to lose!
    Don’t neglect garage door maintenance. Garage doors rely on mechanical and electrical parts to function properly. For older garage doors, those that have been around 10-12 years, we recommend yearly maintenance. Wear and tear, along with corrosion could compromise the function of your garage door.
    Personal Safety Concerns
    You need to have a safety sensor installed to prevent the garage door from closing not just on people, but on objects like your car as well! If you are every working on your garage, make sure you have a friend nearby. You are probably going to have to get up on a ladder, you don’t want to fall down!
    If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact us at:
    (520) 441- 8713
    At Central Alarm, our job is to keep you safe, and we take our job very seriously!